DOI
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.07.051

Summary
The analysis of vulnerability of socio-ecological systems to threats of different types such as extreme climate
events or change in land use draws attention to the factors and processes that determine whether the ecological,
social and integrated socio-ecological systems are likely to experience harm due to exposure to the threat. During
the last years there has been an increasing attention to the analysis of the vulnerability of socio-ecological
systems when facing the lost or degradation of ecosystem services. However, despite the existence of conceptual
frameworks and empirical applications to evaluate vulnerability of socio-ecological systems some open questions
and challenges still remain. How to conceptually differentiate key concepts such as sensitivity, exposition,
vulnerability and threat? How to consider the differences in socio-economic characteristics of the beneficiaries
and in their capacity to adapt to new conditions of the ecological system? How to link ecological vulnerability
with the social system analysis to obtain an integrated risk assessment of the socio-ecological system? This paper
presents a conceptual framework for vulnerability assessment of socio-ecological systems that addresses the
mentioned open questions based on a review of both theoretical and empirical literature related to vulnerability
and socio-ecological systems. The paper identifies the attributes and indicators of the dimensions of vulnerability
for understanding both the social vulnerability and ecological vulnerability separately and then jointly, in interaction
with each other. The framework offers a way to communicate with practitioners and policy makers on
identifying and improving the factors that reduce vulnerability. It can thus serve as a tool for targeting the
implementation of policies and practices aimed at reducing vulnerability.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
This article suggest an alternative to previous attempts to understand how threats of different types are linked to vulnerability of ecosystems and how they in turn impact on society. In the proposed framework the authors also include include how social adaptation strategies impact on the threats. The framework makes it possible to include different spatial and temporal scales of effects in the included subsystems and their components. In addition the make it possible to also include how different types of beneficiaries are affected, who are often left out in more linear approaches to assess vulnerability. The framework provides opportunities for mathematical approaches as well as narrative.

Point of Strength
The proposed framework would be useful in the study of various socio-ecological systems. Mainly it would fit for students in the last year of a bachelors degree or for students at masters level.